"The 4th Cooperative Forum for South China Sea” Successfully Held in Lingshui County, Hainan Province

On October 15^th, 2016, the 4^th Cooperative Forum for South China Sea- Cross Strait Discussions and Research over SCS Cooperation, was successfully held in Lingshui County, Hainan Province by South China Sea Institute of Xiamen University, International Cultural Exchange Center of Hainan Province and South China Sea Policy and Law Research Center of Hainan Province. This forum aims to promote peace and development in South China Sea and enhance deeper Cross-strait cooperation on SCS issue.

Topics for discssion in this forum include: 1 Cross-strait history materials collection and cooperation concerning SCS islands. 2. Stances of Chinese Mainland and Taiwan over the legal status of South China Sea and its islands. 3. Cross-strait cooperation on SCS fishery management, maritime environmental protection, and etc.4. The China-America-Japan relationship and Taiwan’s role in South China Sea issue. Around thirty scholars and experts, who are from Taiwan Academia Sinica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan University, Ocean University, University of Political Sciences, Hainan University, Shandong University, Northwest University of Political Sciences and Law, Xiamen University, China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, and Gaoxiong City (Taiwan) fishery sector, attended this forum. They are involved in maritime territory history, international law, oceans law, environmental law, fishery resources and international relations etc. Field research on fisheries in Tanmen Port, Qionghai City was arranged on October 16^th.

The Dean Kuen-chen Fu, Assistant Professor Zhen LIN, Assistant Professor Henan HU and Assistant Professor Hong CHANG were present at the forum. Professor Kuen-chen Fu delivered a keynote speech “Significance of Fisheries Cooperation and Fishermen’s Human Rights Protection in South China Sea”.

There were hot discussions in the forum. With the active promotion by some attendees, a “Lingshui Consensus” has been reached over cross-strait cooperation over SCS issue, which mainly involves: 1. There are abundant historical facts and jurisprudential bases on China’s sovereignty over the islands in South China Sea. The dotted line is the common heritage of the Chinese nation and its legal effects should never be denied. Chinese mainland and Taiwan should improve their exchanges in historic materials concerning South China Sea and enhance joint research over relevant historic and legal issues; 2. China is entitled to EEZ and CS in the islands of South China Sea and has historic rights in this area. There are serious errors in identification of merits and application of laws in South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by Philippines. Chinese mainland and Taiwan should work together over relevant issues in the arbitration, point out its fallacies and make clear the legitimacy of China’s claims in South China Sea; 3. Both sides of the Strait should seek for cooperation in development, conservation and management of fisheries resources and environment, and promote their exchanges and collaboration in information, science & technology and policy; 4. Democratic Progressive Party should be urged to abandon the Taiwan Independence policy and to acknowledge “1992 Consensus”, so as to improve cross-strait relations and safeguard China’s sovereignty and maritime rights & interests together.

Written by Henan HU, Xia ZHANG

Translated by Lin YE